Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 30,429, Solomon Gates, Mass.

SERVICE
Gates, Solomon
NUMBER
S. 30.429
Mass
CONTENTS

10.972 Massachusetts
Solomon Dats
of Orange in the State of Mass who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain Fish of the Regt commanded by Col. Tyler in the Mass line for 18 months & 15 days
Note
73
Franklin
Inscribed on the Roll of Massachusetts at the rate of 61 - Dollars - 67 - Cents per annum, to commence on the 4th day of March, 1831.
Certificate of Pension issued the 11th day of May 1833 and sent to Mr. Isaac Grannell Springfield Mass
Arrears to the 4th of March 1833 $123.34 Semi-annual allowance ending Sept. 1, 1833 30.83 $154.17
{ Revolutionary Claim, Act June 7, 1832. }
Recorded by H. H. Edson Clerk, Book Da Vol. 28 Page 28

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
FRANKLIN COUNTY ss.
ON THIS nineteenth day of September A. D. 1832, personally appeared in open Court, before the Waxwick Court of Common Pleas of the Probate said Commonwealth, now sitting at Greenfield within and for the said County of Franklin, Solomon Gates a resident of Orange in the County and Commonwealth aforesaid, aged seventy one years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth, on his oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of an act of Congress passed June 7, 1832.
That he entered the service of the United States under the following named officers, and served as herein stated.
1 st On the thirteenth day of February A.D. 1777. He enlisted enlisted as a substitute for his brother John Gates, who was in the Mass. Militia as stationed at Dorchester Point near Boston & for him there served until the expiration of his term which was on the first day of March A.D. 1777, when & where he enlisted for the term of one month in a Company of Mass. Militia Commanded by Capt. Ezekiel Knowlton, being the same in which he served as a substitute as above mentioned, & was there dismissed on the first day of April A.D. 1777.
2 nd In the month of September A.D. 1777, at Petersham in the county of Worcester & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, he enlisted as a soldier for the term of thirty days, in a company of Mass. Militia Commanded by Capt. Oliver & Marched with the detachment under the command of Maj. Wildes through Williamstown & Bennington to Saratoga Plains, where we joined Gen. Stark's Brigade, under whom I was in an engagement with the enemy at a place called Moses' creek about five miles above Saratoga Plains, the above engagement took place
Three days previous to the surrender of Burgoyne's army, he was shortly after dismissed & returned to Petersham having been gone from home over thirty days.
3 rd On the twenty fourth day of December A.D. 1777, he enlisted at Petersham aforesaid for the term of six months in a company of Mass. Militia Commanded by Capt. Morgan, & Marched from thence to Springfield in the County then of Hampshire - where he served as a common soldier guarding public stores, and was discharged July 1 st 1778. -
4 th On the first day of September enlisted at Petersham aforesaid as a soldier in Capt. Nye's Company of Massachusetts Militia, for the term of four months. Marched from thence to Boston and was stationed at Dorchester Point where he with twenty nine others were detached and put under the Command Capt. Darius Goodwin and went with him to New London to guard 500 British Prisoners. - In about six weeks after returned to Boston with the charge of about seven hundred French Prisoners. Then returned to Dorchester Point where he was discharged the first day of January A.D. 1779.
5 th On the first day of July A.D. 1779 enlisted at Petersham aforesaid for the term of six months, as a common soldier in a company of Massachusetts Militia commanded by Capt. Fish in Col. Tyler's Regiment. Marched from thence to Providence Rhode Island where he served about three months and then Marched to Bristol Point, where he served till the time

returned to Dorchester point where he was discharged the first day of January A.D. 1779.
5 th . On the first day of July A.D. 1779 enlisted at Peterboro and served for the term of six months, as a common soldier in a company of Massachusetts Militia commanded by Capt. Fish in Col. Tyler's Regiment. Moved from them, to Providence Rhode Island where he served about three months and then moved to Bristol point where he served till the time the British left Rhode Island - then went on to the Island and stayed till the last day of December and was then discharged at Haverhill's Ferry.
He never received any written discharge - and has no documentary evidence of his service except and he knows of no person living who can testify to his service except Aaron Hager, Thomas Curtis, Asa Lord & Jonas Flint, whose affidavits are hereto annexed. After leaving the Army he returned to Peterboro where he resided there till 1791 - went from there to Orange Massachusetts where he has resided since. He was born at Peterboro aforesaid the 14 th day of February 1761. He knows of no Record evidence of his birth. He refers to Asa Lord, Jesse Warrick and Ezra Goodell Esq. all of Orange aforesaid for traditional evidence of his having served in the Revolutionary War. -

He hereby relinquishes every claim whatever to a pension or annuity except the present, and declares that his name is not on the Pension Roll of the agency of any State.
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
R. C. Newcomb
Judge of Probate
Solomon Gates
Moses Johnson
WE, Aaron Ladd , Jesse Warrick, and Zina Goodell att.
residing in Orange aforesaid hereby certify that we are well acquainted with Solomon Gates who has subscribed and sworn to the above declaration; that we believe him to be seventy one years of age; that he is reputed and believed, in the neighborhood where he resides, to have been a soldier of the Revolution, and that we concur in that opinion.
Sworn and subscribed the day and year aforesaid.
R. C. Newcomb
Judge of Probate
Moses Johnson
Jesse Warrick
Zina Goodell
And the said Court do hereby declare their opinion after the investigation of the matter, and after putting the interrogatories prescribed by the War Department, that the above named applicant was a Revolutionary Soldier and served as he states. And the Court further certifies, that it appears to them that Moses Johnson
Jesse Warrick and Zina Goodell who have severally signed the preceding certificate are residents in said town of Orange, and are credible persons; and that their statement is entitled to credit - And also that no clergyman resides in said town of Orange.
R. C. Newcomb
Judge of Probate
Register
I, ELIJAH ALVORD, Clerk of the said Court, do hereby certify that the foregoing contains the original proceedings of the said Court in the matter of the application of Solomon Gates for a pension.
IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my Hand and affixed the Seal of the said Court, this nineteenth day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty two
E. Alvord Reg. Prob. Clerk.

Solomon Gates 22,327
Private 18 months Amid
E. Alvord Esq Greenfield Mass

BRIEF in the case of Solomon Gates of Orange in the State of Massachusetts (Act 7th June, 1832.)
 1. Was the declaration made before a Court or a Judge? In open court  2. If before a Judge, does it appear that the applicant is disabled by bodily infirmity?  3. How old is he? Seventy one years  4. State his service, as directed in the form annexed. 
   Period. Duration of Service. Rank. Names of General and Field Officers under whom he served.   Years, Months, Days.     From 13 Febr 1777 1 st March In 1777 15 Substitute None named   In March 1777 1 private Capt. Snowdon   " Sept r 1777 30 " " Oliver   " Dec r 1777 6 " " Morgan   " Sept r 1778 4 " " Nye   " July 1779 6 " Col. Dyer & Capt. Fish  
 5. In what battles was he engaged? None named 18 Nov 15 Dec  6. Where did he reside when he entered the service? In Petersham  7. Is his statement supported by living witnesses, by documentary proof, by traditional evidence, by incidental evidence, or by the rolls? Traditional evidence alone Four living witnesses and Traditional evidence  8. Are the papers defective as to form or authentication? and if so, in what respect? Correctly authenticated 
X Certify that the foregoing statement and the answers agree with the evidence in the case above mentioned.
C. H. Adams Examining Clerk.

30 429 Rev INVALID.
File No. 30, 429
Solomon Gates
Rev War
Act: June 7 th 1827
Index: — Vol. 2 , Page 149
[Arrangement of 1870.]

BRIEF objections to the admission of Pension Claims , of which those answered in the negative, in red ink, will apply to the claim of Solomon Gates which require further proof or explanation.
I. Does the declaration show where the applicant resides? yes II. Did the declarant make the declaration in the county where he resides? yes III. If the applicant did not make the declaration in the county where he resides, is there any reason assigned for his not doing so? IV. Has the declarant mentioned the period or periods of the war when he served? yes V. * Has he mentioned with precision the length of his service, and the different grades in which he served, in language so definite as to enable the department to determine to what amount of pension he is entitled? yes VI. Has he given the names of the officers under whom he served, in conformity with the regulations? Not in the names of the Colonels in each case not mentioned VII. Has he made a relinquishment of every claim to any other pension than the one under the Act of June 7, 1832? yes VIII. Has the Court given their opinion? yes IX. Has the Clerk given his certificate? yes X. Is the Clerk's seal affixed? And if so, has it a device or inscription by which it can be distinguished from any other seal? yes

XI. Has the applicant obtained the evidence of a clergyman and another respectable citizen as to their belief respecting his age and the general belief in his neighborhood relative to his revolutionary service? No
XII. If the clergyman's affidavit has not been produced, is there any reason assigned for not obtaining it? yes
XIII. If the applicant has no documentary evidence, and has not obtained the testimony of at least one living witness, has he stated in his declaration that such proof cannot be had? yes
XIV. †If the applicant's name is not found on the rolls of military service, has he produced a witness or witnesses as to his service? yes
If he has produced direct proof as to service, has the magistrate who administered the oath, certified to the credibility of the witness or witnesses? yes
Has the proper officer certified to the official character and signature of the magistrate as the regulations direct? yes
XV. Does it appear from any of the papers that the witness was in such a situation, or of such an age, as to have a personal knowledge of the applicant's service? yes
XVI. ‡Are the papers authenticated as the regulations direct? yes
XVII. Are the seven interrogatories prescribed by the War Department answered satisfactorily? And, if not, which of them is not so answered?
EXPLANATORY NOTES.
* QUERE V. In a case where the applicant cannot, by reason of the loss of memory, state precisely how long he served, he should amend his declaration by making an affidavit in the following words:
"Personally appeared before me, the undersigned, a Justice of the Peace, &c. A. B. who, being duly sworn, depuseth and saith, that, by reason of old age, and the consequent loss of memory, he cannot swear positively as to the precise length of his service, but according to the best of his recollection he served not less than the periods mentioned below, and in the following grades; For _____ year _____ months, and _____ days, I served as a _____ For _____ months and _____ days, I served as a _____; and for such service I claim a pension."

It is important in all cases to determine with precision the period for which each applicant served, and the particular rank he held, as the law directs the pension to be paid according to the grade of the pensioner and the length of his service. The use of the phrase about three or four months is too indefinite, and all such qualifying expressions are objectionable. Some persons who apply for pensions merely state they served two years in the militia, &c. without specifying the tours; the names of the officers, and other particulars respecting their service. This form of a declaration is highly objectionable. It must in every case be clearly shewn under what officers the applicant served; the duration of each term of engagement; the particular place or places where the service was performed; that the applicant served with an embodied corps called into service by competent authority; that he was either in the field or in garrison; and for the time during which the service was performed, he was not employed in any civil pursuit.
†QUERE XIV. Proof of Service.
In a case where the name of the applicant is not found on the records of the Department, he must prove his service by two credible witnesses, who are required to set forth in their affidavits the time of the claimants entering the service, and the time and manner of his leaving the same, as well as the regiment, company, and line to which he belonged. The magistrate who may administer the oaths must certify to the credibility of the witnesses, and the official character and signature of the magistrate must be certified by the proper officer, under his seal of office.
‡QUERE XVI. Mode of authenticating papers.
In every instance where the certificate of the certifying officer who authenticates the papers is not written on the same sheet of paper which contains the affidavit, or other paper authenticated, the certificate must be attached thereto by a piece of tape or narrow ribbon, the ends of which must pass under the seal of office of the certifying officer, so as to prevent any paper from being improperly attached to the certificate.
¶ In every case where the clerk of the court, or other certifying officer, has no public seal of office, the certificate of a member of congress, proving the official character and signature of the certifying officer, should accompany the papers.

Solomon Gates off
James Flint
Adadad
Entered the service September 1738 - for four months. Term expired January 1740
Solomon Gates J. Flint off

I James Flint of Windsor, County of Hillsborough and State of North Hampshire, of lawful age do testify and depose that I am well acquainted with Salomon Gates of Orange County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, that he per- formed the service of a private soldier for the term of four months with me in the Revolutionary war, in the line of the Massachusetts Militia from the month of the first of September A. D. seventeen hundred and seventy eight in Capt Hige Company J. Flint
June 25- 1832
Franklin Co. Then the above named James Flint made oath to the above af- fiant subscribed by him to be true
before me Dudley Instine of the Peace before me Dudley Boston Justice the Peace Orange June 25- A D 1832
To whom it may concern I hereby certify that the statement above subscribed by James Flint may be relied on as correct Dudley Boston Justice Peace

Asa Lord's Affidavit
Entered the same in the year 1777 (Decr 24 for the term of six months the term of six months expired about the last of June 1778
Solomon Gates Asa Lord's Aff

I Asa Lord of Orange County of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, of lawful age do depose and testify & say, that I am well acquainted with Solomon Gale of Orange and Commonwealth of Maine, that he did service as a private soldier for the term of six months, with me in the Revolutionary war in Massachusetts. Military time in Capt. Morgan's Company D. D. Decr 24 Asa Lord seventeen hundred & seventy seven six months expired June 25 th 1838
Franklin.
The above named Asa Lord who has subscribed to the above affidavit appeared and made oath to the truth of the above affidavit before me Darby Boston Justice of the Peace
Orange June 25 th 1832
I certify that the said Asa Lord is a person of truth and integrity. Darby Boston Justice of the Peace

Thomas Curtis's Affidavit In the pension Case of Solomon Gates
Solomon Gates Tho s Curtis depts

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Franklin ss. I Elijah Alvord, clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for the county of Franklin do hereby certify that Parley Barton Esq before whom the two deposition herunto annexed of Jonas Flint and Asa Lord purport to have been taken and sworn to is a Justice of the Peace for the said county; and that Lina Goodell Esq. before the two depositions also herunto annexed, of Aaron Hager and Thomas Curtis, purport to have been taken and sworn to is likewise a Justice of the Peace for the said county. And that their names subscribed to the several certificates of caption subjoined to said depositions appears to me to be their genuine signature
In testimony whereof I have herunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said court at Greenfield on the twenty second day of January A. D. 1833.
E. Alvord clerk

I, Aaron Haged of New Salem in the county of Franklin and commonwealth of Massachusetts - testify and say that I served as a private in Capt. Ezekiel Knowlton's company for the term of three months, during the revolutionary war and that I was stationed at Dorchester, near Boston, that my term of service expired about the first day of March 1777. and I further testify and say that Solomon Gates, then of Petersham in the county of Worcester, - enlisted in the same company as a private and as a substitute for his brother John Gates some time before I was dismissed but I am unable to state how long before and that when I was dismissed the said Solomon Gates remained in said company - I am unable to say how much longer he continued in the same.
Aaron Haged
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss. September 27 th 1852. Then, personally appeared Aaron Haged and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed is - and I also certify that the said Aaron Haged is reputed to be a person of truth and veracity.
Linus Good McMartin of the Peace

I Thomas Cartis of Potsdam in the county of Franklin and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, testify and say that A.D. 1777. I enlisted as a volunteer in the company commanded by Capt Oliver of Athol in the county aforesaid for thirty days and that I was in the detachment commanded by Major Wilder, (the Colonel, Colonel Starkwick of Ware, being then unable to join the regiment) that I marched to Saratoga and that I was present at the time of the surrender of Gen. Burgoyne and that after his surrender I was dismissed and returned home.
I further testify and say that Solomon Bates, then of Potsdam aforesaid, enlisted as a private in the same company and marched with the company to Saratoga and performed service there for the same term of time that I did.
Thomas Cartis
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Franklin ss. September 27 th 1832. Then, personally appeared Thomas Cartis and made oath that the above affidavit by him subscribed, is true. — and I also certify that the said Thomas Cartis is reputed to be a person of truth and veracity.
Lina Gossell Justice of the Peace